Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora
St Albans, 1240–1259

Corpus Christi College, MS 26, f. 1r
St Albans, 1240–1255
Vellum, 260 x 195 mm, ff. 2 + 5 + 140 + 2 + 1 ff.

Corpus Christi College, MS 26 contains the first part of the Chronica maiora (continued in Corpus Christi College, MS 16 and in British Library, Royal 14.C.VII), a compendium of universal history, compiled and partly written by Matthew Paris, monk and official chronicler of St. Albans (c. 1200–1259). The partially autograph manuscript was produced there, and was presented to the convent by Matthew Paris himself. The portion of text included in this volume covers events stretching from the Biblical Creation to the year 1188. The images illustrate the itinerary to the Holy Land, and a map of the Holy Land itself.

By permission of the Master and Fellows of Corpus Christi College Cambridge.